Detergent feeding device and washing machine having the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a washing machine including a body, a tub disposed within the body to retain water, a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub, a detergent feeding device to supply detergent and water to the tub. The detergent feeding device includes a detergent housing installed in the body, a detergent case installed in the detergent housing to store liquid detergent, and a detergent introduction module to introduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into the detergent housing. As the detergent introduction module is installed on the outer surface of the detergent case, placement of electrical components inside the detergent case is avoided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2012-0055359, filed on May 24, 2012 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a detergent feedingdevice to feed liquid detergent and a washing machine having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine includes a tub to retain water and a spin basketrotatably installed in the tub. The laundry contained in the spin basketis washed in the tub by rotation of the spin basket.

The washing machine is provided with a detergent feeding device to feeddetergent, to be used for washing, along with water to the tub.Recently, some washing machines have employed a detergent feeding deviceadapted to liquid detergent which is more soluble in water than powderdetergent.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide adetergent feeding device which eliminates an electrical component from adetergent case.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect, a washing machine includes a body, a tubdisposed within the body to retain water, a spin basket rotatablyinstalled in the tub, a detergent feeding device to supply detergent andwater to the tub, and a control unit to control the detergent feedingdevice, wherein the detergent feeding device comprises a detergenthousing installed in the body, a detergent case installed in thedetergent housing to store liquid detergent, and a detergentintroduction module installed on an outer surface of the detergent caseto communicate with an inside of the detergent case and adapted tointroduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into thedetergent housing according to a command transferred from the controlunit.

The detergent introduction module may be detachably installed on theouter surface of the detergent case.

The detergent introduction module may include at least one detergentpump to pump the liquid detergent in the detergent case to discharge theliquid detergent into the detergent housing.

The detergent pump may include a first gear formed in an annular shapeand provided with teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof, asecond gear formed to have an outer diameter smaller than an innerdiameter of the first gear and provided with teeth on an outercircumferential surface thereof to engage with the teeth provided on theinner circumferential surface of the first gear, and a detergent pumpmotor to generate rotary power to rotate the second gear.

The detergent introduction module may include a detergent introductionmodule housing provided with a channel connected to the detergent caseto guide discharge of the liquid detergent, wherein the detergentintroduction module housing may include a chamber allowing the firstgear and the second gear to be rotatably installed therein, an inflowguide channel to communicate with the detergent case to guide the liquiddetergent to the chamber, a discharge guide channel to guide dischargeof the liquid detergent to an upper side in the chamber, and a dischargeguide pipe connected to an upper end of the discharge guide channel todischarge the liquid detergent downward.

The detergent case may be installed in the detergent housing to bemovable forward and backward, and the detergent introduction module maybe installed at a rear surface of the detergent case.

The washing machine may further include a first connector provided at arear side of the detergent introduction module, and a second connectorprovided at an inner rear side of the detergent housing to beselectively connected to the first connector depending on a position ofthe detergent case.

The detergent case may include a main detergent storage part to storemain detergent in a liquid state and a sub-detergent storage part tostore sub-detergent in liquid state, and the at least one detergent pumpmay include a main detergent pump to pump out the main detergent storedin the main detergent storage part, and a sub-detergent pump to pump outthe sub-detergent stored in the sub-detergent storage.

In accordance with one aspect, a detergent feeding device includes adetergent housing, a detergent case installed in the detergent housingto store liquid detergent, and a detergent introduction module installedon an outer surface of the detergent case to communicate with an insideof the detergent case to introduce the liquid detergent stored in thedetergent case into the detergent housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machine having adetergent feeding device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the detergent feeding deviceaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a detergent housingof the detergent feeding device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a detergent case ofthe detergent feeding device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a detergent case and adetergent introduction module applied to the detergent feeding device ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the detergentintroduction module applied to the detergent feeding device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional top view illustrating the detergentintroduction module applied to the detergent feeding device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the detergentintroduction module applied to the detergent feeding device of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram illustrating the detergent feedingdevice of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

As shown in FIG. 1, a washing machine includes a housing 10 forming anexternal appearance of the washing machine, a tub 20 disposed inside thehousing 10, a spin basket 30 rotatably installed in the tub 20, and adrive motor 40 to rotate the spin basket 30.

At the upper portion of the front of the housing 10 is disposed acontrol panel (not shown) provided with a manipulation button 810, whichwill be described later, allowing a user to control operation of thewashing machine. A circuit board (not shown) forming a control unit 800,which will be described later, is disposed inside the control panel.Also, an introduction port 10 a is provided at the center of the frontface of the housing 10 to allow introduction of laundry into the spinbasket 30, and is opened and closed by a door 11 rotatably installed atthe front face of the housing 10.

The tub 20 is installed inside the housing 10 using a suspension member,and water to be used in washing the laundry is stored therein.

The spin basket 30 includes a body part 31 having a cylindrical shape, afront plate 32 disposed at the front of the body part 31, and a rearplate 33 disposed at the rear of the body part 31. A plurality ofthrough holes 31 a is provided in the body part 31 of the spin basket 30to allow flow of wash water therethrough, and a plurality of lifters 31b to lift the laundry upward is provided on the inner circumferentialsurface of the spin basket 30 and arranged spaced apart from each otherin a circumferential direction. The front plate 32 is provided with anopening 32 a through which the laundry is inserted or removed. Installedat the center of the rear plate 33 is a shaft flange 34 to which arotating shaft 43 of the drive motor 40, which will be described later,is connected.

The drive motor 40 includes a stator 41 fixed to the rear surface of thetub 20, a rotator 42 to interact with the stator 41 to rotate, and arotating shaft 43 having one end fixed to the center of the rotator 42and the other end fixed to the center of the rear plate 33 of the spinbasket 30 through the tub 20.

Provided at the rear wall of the tub 20 is a bearing housing 21 tosupport the rotating shaft 43 such that the rotating shaft 43 isrotatable. The bearing housing 21 is manufactured using an insertinjection molding process. Installed inside the bearing housing 21 arebearings 22 to support the rotating shaft 43 such that the rotatingshaft 43 is rotatable.

At the upper portion of the tub 20 are disposed a water supply unit 50to supply water to the tub 20 and a detergent feeding device 70connected to the water supply unit 50 to supply water delivered throughthe water supply unit 50 to the tub 20 along with detergent. At thelower portion of the tub 20 is disposed a drain unit 60 to dischargeused wash water to the outside of the housing 10.

The water supply unit 50 includes water supply pipes 51 to connect anexternal water source (not shown) and the detergent feeding device 70 toeach other, and a water supply valve 52 disposed in the water supplypipes 51 to open and close the water supply pipe 51. The drain unit 60includes a drain pipe 61 to guide water in the tub 20 to be dischargedto the outside of the housing 10, and a drain pump 62 disposed at thedrain pipe 61 to discharge water through the drain pipe 61.

The detergent feeding device 70 is connected to the tub 20 via aconnection pipe 53 connected to the lower portion of the detergentfeeding device 70. Accordingly, water supplied through the water supplypipes 51 is supplied to the tub 20 through the connection pipe 53 viathe detergent feeding device 70.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the detergent feeding device 70 includes adetergent case 710 to retain detergent, a detergent housing 700 toaccommodate the detergent case 710. A plurality of water supply ports702 a is provided at the upper portion of the rear end of the detergenthousing 700 to be connected with the water supply pipes 51, and aconnection port 700 b is provided at the lower portion of the detergenthousing 700 to be connected with the connection pipe 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detergent housing 700 is mounted and fixed tothe housing 10 of the washing machine, and includes a housing cover 701to cover the top of the detergent housing 700. Also, installed at theinner upper portion of the detergent housing 700 is a first water supplyguide 702 disposed at the upper portion of the detergent case 710 andprovided at the rear end thereof with the water supply ports 702 a todistribute water supplied through the water supply pipes 51 to a powderdetergent storage part 710 c, which will be described later, or a manualdetergent supply unit 710 d, which will be described later. Installed atthe inner rear side of the detergent housing 700 is a second watersupply guide 703 connected to the first water supply guide 702 todistribute water supplied through the water supply pipes 51 to the leftand right sides in the detergent housing 700.

The detergent case 710 is movably installed in the detergent housing 700though the detergent case inserting hole 700 a provided at the front ofthe detergent housing 700. Accordingly, a user is allowed to introducedetergent into the detergent case 710 by retracting the detergent case710 from the detergent housing 700, or to remove the detergent case 710from the detergent housing 700 to clean the detergent case 710.

The detergent case 710 is provided with a plurality of detergent storageparts 710 a, 710 b, 710 c and 710 d to store detergent. The detergentstorage parts 710 a, 710 b, 710 c and 710 d include liquid detergentstorage parts 710 a and 710 b to store liquid detergent, a powderdetergent storage 710 c to store powder detergent, a manual detergentsupply unit 710 d allowing the user to supply a rinse additive orbleach. Also, the liquid detergent storage parts 710 a and 710 b aredivided into a main detergent storage part 710 a to accommodate maindetergent in a liquid state and a sub-detergent storage part 710 b tostore sub-detergent in a liquid state such as the rinse additive orbleach.

A detergent case cover 711 is mounted to the upper portion of thedetergent case 710 to prevent overflow of detergent in the detergentcase 710. Also, the detergent case cover 711 is provided with aplurality of detergent introduction ports 711 a, 711 b, 711 c and 711 dto introduce detergent into the respective detergent storage parts 710a, 710 b, 710 c and 710 d. Among the detergent introduction ports 711 a,711 b, 711 c and 711 d, the detergent introduction ports for the maindetergent storage part 710 a and sub-detergent storage part 710 bretaining a large amount of liquid detergent are provided with storagecovers 711 e and 711 f to prevent overflow of the liquid detergent.

The detergent feeding device 70 also includes a detergent introductionmodule 730 controlled by a control unit 800 to introduce liquiddetergent stored in the detergent case 710 into the detergent housing700 to thereby allow the liquid detergent to be mixed with water in thedetergent housing 700 and supplied to the tub 20 along with water.

As shown in FIG. 5, the detergent introduction module 730 is installedto communicate with the detergent case 710. The detergent introductionmodule 730 is arranged at the outer surface of the detergent case 710 toavoid arranging electrical connection structures in the detergent case710. In the illustrated embodiment, the detergent introduction module730 is installed at the rear surface of the detergent case 710.

As shown in FIG. 6, the detergent introduction module 730 includesdetergent pumps 731M and 731S to pump liquid detergent in the detergentcase 710 to discharge the liquid detergent to the detergent housing 700,and a detergent introduction module housing 732 provided with a channelto communicate with the detergent case 710 and guide discharge of theliquid detergent. The detergent introduction module 730 also includes adetergent introduction module cover 734 to cover the top of thedetergent introduction module housing 732, and a bottom plate 735disposed at the bottom surface of the detergent introduction modulehousing 732 to define a chamber, which will be described later. In theillustrated embodiment, the detergent pumps 731M and 731S includes amain detergent pump 731M to pump main detergent stored in the maindetergent storage 710 a and a sub-detergent pump 731S to pumpsub-detergent stored in the sub-detergent storage 710 b, and isinstalled in the detergent introduction module housing 732.

To allow liquid detergent to be transferred from the detergent case 710to the detergent introduction module 730, a pair of communication holes710 e and 710 f respectively connected to the main detergent storagepart 710 a and the sub-detergent storage part 710 b is provided on therear surface of the detergent case 710. The detergent introductionmodule housing 732 is provided with inlets 732 a at positionscorresponding to the communication holes 710 e and 710 f to allow liquiddetergent to flow into the detergent introduction module housing 732.Disposed between communication holes 710 e and 710 f and the inlets 732a are sealing members 736.

Each of the detergent pumps 731M and 731S includes a first gear 731 aformed in an annular shape and provided with teeth on the innercircumferential surface thereof, a second gear 731 b having an outerdiameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first gear 731 a andteeth provided on the outer circumferential surface thereof to engagewith the teeth formed on the inner circumferential surface of the firstgear 731 a, and a detergent pump motor 731 c to generate rotary power torotate the second gear 731 b.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the detergent introduction module housing 732includes a chamber 732 b provided at the lower portion of the detergentintroduction module housing 732 to allow the first gear 731 a and thesecond gear 731 b to be rotatably installed therein, an inflow guidechannel 732 c connected to the inlet 732 a to communicate with thedetergent case 710 and adapted to guide liquid detergent to the chamber732 b, a discharge guide channel 732 d to guide the liquid detergent toa higher location in the chamber 732 b than that of the liquid detergentstored in the detergent case 710, a discharge guide pipe 733 connectedto the upper end of the discharge guide channel 732 d to discharge theliquid detergent downward. In the illustrated embodiment, as a pair ofdetergent pumps is provided, the detergent introduction module 730 isprovided with a pair of chambers 732 b, a pair of inflow guide channels732 c, a pair of discharge guide channels 732 d and a pair of dischargeguide pipes 733.

In the illustrated embodiment, the detergent case 710 is installed inthe detergent housing 700 such that the detergent case 710 is movableback and forth, and therefore a first connector 737 is provided at therear side of the detergent introduction module 730, and a secondconnector 704 is provided at the inner rear side of the detergenthousing 700 to be selectively connected to the first connector 737depending on the position of the detergent case 710. Accordingly, whenthe detergent case 710 is accommodated in the detergent housing 700, thefirst connector 737 is connected with the second connector 704 so thatelectricity may be applied to the detergent introduction module 730.When the detergent case 710 is protruded from the detergent housing 700,the first connector 737 is disconnected from the second connector 704,and thus electricity is not allowed to be applied to the detergentintroduction module 730.

Such washing machine includes, as shown in FIG. 9, a control unit 800 tocontrol operations of the respective constituents of the washing machinesuch as the detergent feeding device 70 and the drive motor 40, and amanipulation button 810 allowing the user to select functions of thewashing machine. Thereby, the drive motor 40 and the detergentintroduction module 730 are controlled through the control unit 800.

Accordingly, when an operation of the washing machine is selected by theuser through the manipulation button 810, the control unit 800 applieselectricity to the drive motor 40 and the detergent introduction module730 according to cycles such as washing, rinsing and draining that arepreset in the control unit 800.

When electricity is applied to the detergent introduction module 730,the detergent pumps 731M and 731S are driven, and main detergent orsub-detergent in liquid state stored in the main detergent storage part710 a or sub-detergent storage part 710 b of the detergent case 710passes sequentially through the communication holes 710 e and 710 f,inlets 732 a and inflow guide channel 732 c and flows into the chamber732 b, and is then discharged into the detergent housing 700 via thedischarge guide channel 732 d and the discharge guide pipe 733.

As is apparent from the above description, with an electrically operateddetergent introduction module disposed on the outer surface of adetergent case, a connection structure for operation of the detergentintroduction module are positioned at the outer side of the detergentcase, and therefore a simple configuration of the inside of thedetergent case may be ensured.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would beappreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthese embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine comprising: a body; a tubdisposed within the body to retain water; a spin basket rotatablyinstalled in the tub; a detergent feeding device to supply detergent andwater to the tub; and a control unit to control the detergent feedingdevice, wherein the detergent feeding device comprises a detergenthousing installed in the body, a detergent case installed in thedetergent housing to store liquid detergent, and a detergentintroduction module installed on an outer surface of the detergent caseto communicate with an inside of the detergent case and adapted tointroduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into thedetergent housing according to a command transferred from the controlunit.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the detergentintroduction module is detachably installed on the outer surface of thedetergent case.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein thedetergent introduction module comprises at least one detergent pump topump the liquid detergent in the detergent case to discharge the liquiddetergent into the detergent housing.
 4. The washing machine accordingto claim 3, wherein the detergent pump comprises a first gear formed inan annular shape and provided with teeth on an inner circumferentialsurface thereof, a second gear formed to have an outer diameter smallerthan an inner diameter of the first gear and provided with teeth on anouter circumferential surface thereof to engage with the teeth providedon the inner circumferential surface of the first gear, and a detergentpump motor to generate rotary power to rotate the second gear.
 5. Thewashing machine according to claim 4, wherein the detergent introductionmodule comprises a housing provided with a channel connected to thedetergent case to guide discharge of the liquid detergent, wherein thedetergent introduction module housing comprises a chamber allowing thefirst gear and the second gear to be rotatably installed therein, aninflow guide channel to communicate with the detergent case to guide theliquid detergent to the chamber, a discharge guide channel to guidedischarge of the liquid detergent to an upper side in the chamber, and adischarge guide pipe connected to an upper end of the discharge guidechannel to discharge the liquid detergent downward.
 6. The washingmachine according to claim 1, wherein: the detergent case is installedin the detergent housing to be movable forward and backward; and thedetergent introduction module is installed at a rear surface of thedetergent case.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 6, furthercomprising a first connector provided at a rear side of the detergentintroduction module, and a second connector provided at an inner rearside of the detergent housing to be selectively connected to the firstconnector depending on a position of the detergent case.
 8. The washingmachine according to claim 3, wherein: the detergent case comprises amain detergent storage part to store main detergent in a liquid stateand a sub-detergent storage part to store sub-detergent in liquid state;and the at least one detergent pump comprises a main detergent pump topump out the main detergent stored in the main detergent storage part,and a sub-detergent pump to pump out the sub-detergent stored in thesub-detergent storage.
 9. A detergent feeding device comprising: adetergent housing; a detergent case installed in the detergent housingto store liquid detergent; and a detergent introduction module installedon an outer surface of the detergent case to communicate with an insideof the detergent case to introduce the liquid detergent stored in thedetergent case into the detergent housing.
 10. The detergent feedingdevice according to claim 9, wherein the detergent introduction moduleis detachably installed on the outer surface of the detergent case. 11.The detergent feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the detergentintroduction module comprises at least one detergent pump to pump outthe liquid detergent in the detergent case to discharge the liquiddetergent into the detergent housing.
 12. The detergent feeding deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the detergent pump comprises a first gearformed in an annular shape and provided with teeth on an innercircumferential surface thereof, a second gear formed to have an outerdiameter smaller than an inner diameter of the first gear and providedwith teeth on an outer circumferential surface thereof to engage withthe teeth provided on the inner circumferential surface of the firstgear, and a detergent pump motor to generate rotary power to rotate thesecond gear.
 13. The detergent feeding device according to claim 12,wherein the detergent introduction module comprises a detergentintroduction module housing provided with a channel connected to thedetergent case to guide discharge of the liquid detergent, wherein thedetergent introduction module housing comprises a chamber allowing thefirst gear and the second gear to be rotatably installed therein, aninflow guide channel to communicate with the detergent case to guide theliquid detergent to the chamber, a discharge guide channel to guidedischarge of the liquid detergent to an upper side in the chamber, and adischarge guide pipe connected to an upper end of the discharge guidechannel to discharge the liquid detergent downward.
 14. The detergentfeeding device according to claim 9, wherein: the detergent case isinstalled in the detergent housing to be movable forward and backward;and the detergent introduction module is installed at a rear surface ofthe detergent case.
 15. The detergent feeding device according to claim14, further comprising a first connector provided at a rear side of thedetergent introduction module, and a second connector provided at aninner rear side of the detergent housing to be selectively connected tothe first connector depending on a position of the detergent case. 16.The detergent feeding device according to claim 11, wherein: thedetergent case comprises a main detergent storage part to store maindetergent in a liquid state and a sub-detergent storage part to storesub-detergent in a liquid state; and the at least one detergent pumpcomprises a main detergent pump to pump the main detergent stored in themain detergent storage part, and a sub-detergent pump to pump thesub-detergent stored in the sub-detergent storage.
 17. A washing machinecomprising: a body; a tub disposed within the body to retain water; aspin basket rotatably installed in the tub; a detergent feeding deviceto supply detergent and water to the tub; and a control unit to controlthe detergent feeding that allows for a user to set how much liquiddetergent is supplied to tub; wherein the detergent feeding devicecomprises; a detergent housing; a detergent case installed in thedetergent housing to store liquid detergent; and a detachable detergentintroduction module comprising at least one pump is installed on anouter surface of the detergent case to communicate with an inside of thedetergent case to introduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergentcase into the detergent housing.